The Hornets trailed Ursuline, 24-0, at the half. Most people had written the Hornets off, since LaVerde's run-oriented team isn't considered to be built to come back from such a deficit.

But behind four straight touchdowns and a quartet of two-point conversions, the Hornets rallied for a 38-37 victory.

They got a stop on Ursuline's two-point conversion attempt with seconds remaining to clinch a second straight Division V state final four bid.

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Kirtland (13-0) will play Baltimore Liberty Union (11-2) on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Fawcett Stadium in Canton.

It's one of two area state semifinals slated for that evening. Mentor (12-1) will play Toledo Whitmer (13-0) at Mansfield's Arlin Field, also slated for a 7 p.m. kickoff, in a Division I state semifinal.

LaVerde might be pinching himself every day until then.

"We went on a 38-7 run against a team that talented," LaVerde marveled. "Those kids couldn't have played a better two quarters -- ever."

When LaVerde uttered those words early Sunday morning, he didn't know at the time where his team would be going to face Liberty Union. Energized by his team's performance the night before, he didn't really care, either.

"I would drive to Kentucky to play this team," LaVerde said.

So how did Kirtland do it? How did they come back from a 24-point deficit and rebound from a first half in which they had 23 yards of offense?

They believed.

"I think our kids were like, 'Listen, these guys aren't that good,'" LaVerde said, harkening back to Saturday's halftime talk. "They weren't sitting there thinking Ursuline was so much better than us. They were ticked off that we were self-destructing."

His Hornets got back into the game in chunks.

Touchdown, two-point conversion.

Touchdown, two-point conversion.

Touchdown, two-point conversion.

Touchdown, two-point conversion.

Goodbye deficit. Hello momentum.

Even when Ursuline scored a touchdown with precious seconds remaining in the game and lined up for a two-point conversion, LaVerde wasn't overcome with butterflies.

"We knew what play they would run," LaVerde said. "When they came out, as soon as I saw them line up, I told them it was coming."

Quarterback Chris Durkin kept the ball. Ryan Loncar came in first with the initial contact, with Damon Washington crashing down off the corner for the next hit. A mass of humanity wearing Kirtland helmets piled on to finish the job.

"We got him to the ground," LaVerde said, "then it was a lot of fun after that."

LaVerde quickly pointed out the job is not finished. Kirtland has two more games to reach its goal of a second straight Division V state championship.

LaVerde said "I know nothing" about Liberty Union, and that wouldn't change until the teams exchange film. But in his mind, the most important thing isn't what the other team does. Rather, the most important thing is what he knows he has -- a 13-0 team that can come back from a big deficit and win a game against a marquee opponent that had the Hornets on the ropes.

Until his team collectively said, "No more."

"That's the best two quarters I've ever seen a Kirtland football team play," LaVerde said. "I can't say enough about my guys. They've got so much heart, character and class.